SCOTWASTE MONARCHS COMPLETE THEIR TEAM

NEWS Monday 21st January 2008, 2:42pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have finalised their 2008 lineup by adding the names of Scottish riders William Lawson and Derek Sneddon.

25 year old Sneddon will continue in his role as club captain, for which he earned much praise last season. Lawson (20) returns to his parent club after spending the second half of 2007 riding for Wolverhampton in the Elite League.

Sneddon will be the oldest member of the youngest ever Monarchs' side, and one which the promotion believe is very solid and full of potential.

Captain Sneddon agrees: ?I was laughing at the thought I am the oldest member of the team. I don't really know our two new signings yet but being a young bunch of lads we will get on fine, and we will all make Ryan and Thomas very welcome.

?I believe we are all capable of adding to our average, and maybe Thomas and Aaron are particularly good value on the averages we have got them on.?

Of the other current club assets, Theo Pijper and Sean Stoddart are fixed up with Swindon and Newcastle respectively for the season and everyone at Edinburgh wishes them well.

It was always anticipated that young Kalle Katajisto would spend this summer racing in Scandinavia to gain experience, and his father Timo sent a message to the club saying:

?The Monarchs have a great team spirit and Kalle was welcomed with open arms to the team. We would like to hope that Kalle might have a chance to ride for Edinburgh again in the future.?

Daniele Tessari is recovering after an operation on the knee injury which caused him to miss most of last season. He will test his fitness by racing in Italy and Germany and, like Kalle, is very much in Monarchs' plans for the future.

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS 2008: (with ages) Ryan Fisher (24), Derek Sneddon (captain, 25), Tomas H Jonasson (19), William Lawson (20), Matthew Wethers (22), Andrew Tully (19), Aaron Summers (19).